Judges 9

NEW JERUSALEM	NOVA VULGATA
1 Abimelech son of Jerubbaal confronted his mother's brothers at Shechem and, to them and to the wholeclan of his maternal grandfather's family, he said,	1 Abiit autem Abimelech filius Ierobbaal in Sichem ad fratres matris suae et locutus est ad eos et ad omnem cognationem familiae matris suae dicens:
2 'Please put this question to the leading men of Shechem: Which is better for you: to be ruled by seventypeople -- al Jerubbaal's sons -- or to be ruled by one? Remember too that I am your own flesh and bone.'	2 “ Loquimini ad omnes viros Sichem: “Quid vobis est melius, ut dominentur vestri septuaginta viri, omnes filii Ierobbaal, an ut dominetur vobis unus vir? Simulque considerate quod os vestrum et caro vestra sum” ”.
3 His mother's brothers said al this on his behalf to al the leading men of Shechem, and their feelingsswayed them to follow Abimelech, since they argued, 'He is our brother.'	3 Locutique sunt fratres matris eius de eo ad omnes viros Sichem universos sermones istos et inclinaverunt cor eorum post Abimelech dicentes: “ Frater noster est ”.
4 So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and with this Abimelech paidviolent adventurers to fol ow him.	4 Dederuntque illi septuaginta pondo argenti de fano Baalberith; qui conduxit sibi ex eo viros inopes et vagos, secutique sunt eum.
5 He then went to his father's house at Ophrah and put his brothers, Jerubbaal's seventy sons, to deathon one and the same stone. Jotham, however, Jerubbaal's youngest son, escaped by going into hiding.	5 Et venit in domum patris sui Ephra et occidit fratres suos filios Ierobbaal septuaginta viros super lapidem unum. Remansitque Ioatham filius Ierobbaal minimus, quia absconditus erat.
6 All the leading men of Shechem and al Beth-Mil o then met and proclaimed Abimelech king at the oakof the cultic stone at Shechem.	6 Congregati sunt autem omnes viri Sichem et universae domus Mello abieruntque et constituerunt regem Abimelech iuxta quercum, quae stabat in Sichem.
7 News of this was brought to Jotham. He went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted at thetop of his voice: Hear me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may also hear you!	7 Quod cum nuntiatum esset Ioatham, ivit et stetit in vertice montis Garizim elevataque voce clamavit et dixit: “ Audite me, viri Sichem, ut audiat vos Deus.
8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king to rule them. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king!'	8 Ierunt ligna, ut ungerent super se regem, dixeruntque olivae: “Impera nobis”.
9 The olive tree replied, 'Must I forgo my oil which gives honour to gods and men, to stand and sway overthe trees?'	9 Quae respondit: “Numquid possum deserere pinguedinem meam, qua et dii honorantur et homines, et venire, ut super ligna movear?”.
10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our king!'	10 Dixeruntque ligna ad arborem ficum: “Veni et super nos regnum accipe”.
11 The fig tree replied, 'Must I forgo my sweetness, forgo my excel ent fruit, to go and sway over thetrees?'	11 Quae respondit eis: “Numquid possum deserere dulcedinem meam fructusque suavissimos et ire, ut super cetera ligna movear?”.
12 Then the trees said to the vine, 'You come and be our king!'	12 Locuta quoque sunt ligna ad vitem: “Veni et impera nobis”.
13 The vine replied, 'Must I forgo my wine which cheers gods and men, to go and sway over the trees?'	13 Quae respondit: “Numquid possum deserere vinum meum, quod laetificat deos et homines, et super ligna cetera commoveri?”.
14 Then the trees al said to the thorn bush, 'You come and be our king!'	14 Dixeruntque omnia ligna ad rhamnum: “Veni et impera super nos”.
15 And the thorn bush replied to the trees, 'If you are anointing me in good faith to be your king, come andshelter in my shade. But, if not, fire will come out of the thorn bush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'	15 Quae respondit eis: “Si vere me regem vobis constituitis, venite et sub mea umbra requiescite; sin autem non vultis, egrediatur ignis de rhamno et devoret cedros Libani!”.
16 'Now then, if you have acted in sincerity and good faith in making Abimelech king, if you have dealthonourably with Jerubbaal and his family, and have treated him as his actions deserved,	16 Nunc igitur, si recte et absque peccato constituistis super vos regem Abimelech et bene egistis cum Ierobbaal et cum domo eius et reddidistis vicem beneficiis eius,
17 my father having fought for you, risked his life and rescued you from the power of Midian,	17 qui pugnavit pro vobis et animam suam dedit periculis, ut erueret vos de manu Madian,
18 and you today having risen up against my father's family, murdered his sons -- seventy of them on oneand the same stone -- and appointed Abimelech, his slave-girl's son, to rule the leading men of Shechem,because he is your brother!-	18 qui nunc surrexistis contra domum patris mei et interfecistis filios eius septuaginta viros super unum lapidem et constituistis regem Abimelech filium ancillae eius super habitatores Sichem, eo quod frater vester sit;
19 if, I say, you have acted in sincerity and good faith towards Jerubbaal and his family, then mayAbimelech be your joy and may you be his!	19 si ergo recte et absque vitio egistis cum Ierobbaal et domo eius hodie, laetamini in Abimelech, et ille laetetur in vobis.
20 If not, may fire come out of Abimelech and devour the leading men of Shechem and Beth-Mil o, andfire come out of the leading men of Shechem and Beth-Mil o to devour Abimelech!'	20 Sin autem perverse, egrediatur ignis ex Abimelech et consumat habitatores Sichem et domum Mello, egrediaturque ignis de viris Sichem et de domo Mello et devoret Abimelech! ”.
21 Jotham then took to his heels; he fled and made his way to Beer; and there he stayed, to be out of hisbrother Abimelech's reach.	21 Quae cum Ioatham dixisset, fugit et abiit in Bera habitavitque ibi metu Abimelech fratris sui.
22 Abimelech ruled Israel for three years.	22 Regnavit itaque Abimelech super Israel tribus annis.
23 God then sent a spirit of discord between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders ofShechem betrayed Abimelech.	23 Misitque Deus spiritum pessimum inter Abimelech et habitatores Sichem, qui rebellaverunt contra eum,
24 And this was so that the crime committed against Jerubbaal's seventy sons should be avenged, andtheir blood recoil on their brother Abimelech who had murdered them, and on those leaders of Shechem whohad helped him to murder his brothers.	24 ut scelus interfectionis septuaginta filiorum Ierobbaal et effusio sanguinis eorum veniret super Abimelech fratrem suum et in viros Sichimorum, qui eum adiuverant.
25 The leaders of Shechem put men to ambush him on the mountain tops, and these robbed anyonetravel ing their way. Abimelech was told of this.	25 Posueruntque insidias adversus eum in montium summitate et exercebant latrocinia agentes praedas de omnibus praetereuntibus. Nuntiatumque est Abimelech.
26 Gaal son of Obed, with his brothers, happened to pass through Shechem and win the confidence ofthe leaders of Shechem.	26 Venit autem Gaal filius Ebed cum fratribus suis et transivit in Sichimam, et confisi sunt habitatores Sichem in eo.
27 These went out into the countryside to harvest their vineyards; they trod the grapes and made merryand went into the temple of their god. They ate and drank there and cursed Abimelech.	27 Egressi in agros vindemiaverunt vineas uvasque calcaverunt et, factis cantantium choris, ingressi sunt fanum dei sui et inter epulas et pocula maledicebant Abimelech,
28 Gaal son of Obed said, 'Who is Abimelech, and what is Shechem, for us to be his slaves? Should notJerubbaal's son and his lieutenant, Zebul, be serving the men of Hamor, father of Shechem? Why should we behis slaves?	28 clamante Gaal filio Ebed: “ Quis est Abimelech, et quae est Sichem, ut serviamus ei? Numquid non est filius Ierobbaal et Zebul praefectus eius? Servite viris Hemmor patris Sichem! Cur serviemus ei?
29 Who wil put this people under my command, so that I can expel Abimelech? I should say to him,"Reinforce your army and come out!" '	29 Utinam daret aliquis populum istum sub manu mea, ut auferrem de medio Abimelech et dicerem ei: Congrega exercitus multitudinem et veni ”.
30 Zebul the governor of the town was told what Gaal son of Obed had said, and he was furious.	30 Zebul princeps civitatis, auditis sermonibus Gaal filii Ebed, iratus est valde
31 He sent messengers secretly to Abimelech to say, 'Look! Gaal son of Obed has come to Shechemwith his brothers, and they are stirring up the town against you.	31 et misit clam ad Abimelech nuntios dicens: “ Ecce Gaal filius Ebed venit in Sichimam cum fratribus suis et excitant adversum te civitatem.
32 So, move under cover of dark, you and the men you have with you, and take up concealed positions inthe countryside;	32 Surge itaque nocte cum populo, qui tecum est, et latita in agro.
33 then in the morning at sunrise, break cover and rush on the town. When Gaal and his supporters comeout to meet you, treat them as occasion offers.'	33 Et primo mane, oriente sole, irrue super civitatem; illo autem egrediente adversum te cum populo suo, fac ei, quod potueris ”.
34 So Abimelech set off under cover of dark with al his own supporters and took up concealed positionsover against Shechem, in four groups.	34 Surrexit itaque Abimelech cum omni exercitu suo nocte et tetendit insidias iuxta Sichimam in quattuor locis.
35 As Gaal son of Obed was coming out and pausing at the entrance of the town gate, Abimelech and hissupporters rose from their ambush.	35 Egressusque est Gaal filius Ebed et stetit in introitu portae civitatis; surrexit autem Abimelech et omnis exercitus cum eo de insidiarum loco.
36 Gaal saw these men and said to Zebul, 'Look, there are men coming down from the tops of themountains!' Zebul answered, 'You mistake the shadow of the mountains for men.'	36 Cumque vidisset populum Gaal, dixit ad Zebul: “ Ecce de montibus multitudo descendit ”. Cui ille respondit: “ Umbras montium vides quasi homines ”.
37 But Gaal insisted, 'Look, there are men coming down from the Navel of the Earth and another group iscoming from the direction of the Diviners' Oak.'	37 Rursumque Gaal ait: “ Ecce populus de Umbilico terrae descendit, et unus cuneus venit per viam Quercus Augurum ”.
38 Zebul then said, 'Where are your mouthings now about "Who is Abimelech, for us to be his slaves?"Are not these the men you made light of? Sally out, then, and fight him.'	38 Cui dixit Zebul: “ Ubi est nunc os tuum, quo loquebaris: “Quis est Abimelech, ut serviamus ei?”. Nonne iste est populus, quem despiciebas? Egredere et pugna contra eum ”.
39 Gaal sal ied out at the head of the leaders of Shechem and engaged Abimelech.	39 Abiit ergo Gaal, spectante Sichimorum populo, et pugnavit contra Abimelech.
40 Abimelech drove Gaal off, who turned tail, many of his men falling dead before they could reach thegate.	40 Qui persecutus est eum fugientem, cecideruntque ex parte eius plurimi usque ad portam civitatis.
41 Abimelech then stayed at Aruma, and Zebul expelled Gaal and his brothers and prevented them fromliving in Shechem.	41 Et Abimelech sedit in Aruma; Zebul autem Gaal et fratres eius expulit de urbe nec in ea passus est commorari.
42 Next day, when the people went out into the countryside, Abimelech was told of this.	42 Sequenti ergo die egressus est populus in campum. Quod cum nuntiatum esset Abimelech,
43 He took his men, divided them into three groups and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the peopleleaving the town, he bore down on them and slaughtered them.	43 tulit exercitum suum et divisit in tres turmas tendens insidias in agris. Vidensque quod egrederetur populus de civitate, surrexit et percussit eos.
44 While Abimelech and his group rushed forward and took position at the entrance to the town gate, thetwo other groups fel on everyone in the fields and slaughtered them.	44 Irruensque cum cuneo suo obsedit ingressum portae civitatis; duae autem turmae palantes per campum adversarios percusserunt.
45 Al that day Abimelech attacked the town. He stormed it and slaughtered the people inside, razed thetown and sowed it with salt.	45 Porro Abimelech omni illo die oppugnabat urbem, quam cepit, interfectis habitatoribus eius ipsaque destructa, ita ut sal in ea dispergeret.
46 On hearing this, al the leading men inside Migdal-Shechem took refuge in the crypt of the temple ofEl-Berith.	46 Quod cum audissent, qui habitabant in turre Sichimorum, ingressi sunt cryptam fani Elberith (id est dei Foederis).
47 As soon as Abimelech heard that the leading men inside Migdal-Shechem had al gathered there,	47 Abimelech quoque audiens omnes viros turris Sichimorum pariter conglobatos,
48 he went up Mount Zalmon with al his men. Then taking an axe in his hands, he cut off the branch of atree, picked it up and put it on his shoulder, and said to the men with him, 'Hurry and do what you have seen medo.'	48 ascendit in montem Selmon cum omni populo suo et, arrepta securi, praecidit arboris ramum impositumque ferens umero dixit ad socios: “ Quod me viditis facere, cito facite ”.
49 Each of his men similarly cut off a branch; then, following Abimelech, they piled the branches over thecrypt and set it on fire over those who were inside; so that al the people in Migdal-Shechem died too, about athousand men and women.	49 Igitur certatim ramos de arboribus praecidentes sequebantur ducem, quos circumdantes cryptae succenderunt; atque ita factum est, ut fumo et igne omnes homines necarentur, circiter mille viri pariter ac mulieres, habitatores turris Sichem.
50 Abimelech then marched on Thebez, besieged it and captured it.	50 Abimelech autem inde proficiscens venit ad oppidum Thebes, quod obsidebat et cepit.
51 In the middle of the town there was a fortified tower in which al the men and women and al theleading men of the town took refuge. They locked the door behind them and climbed up to the roof of the tower.	51 Erat autem turris fortis in media civitate, ad quam confugerant viri simul ac mulieres et omnes cives civitatis, clausa firmissime ianua, et super turris tectum stantes per propugnacula.
52 Abimelech reached the tower and attacked it. As he was approaching the door of the tower to set it onfire,	52 Accedensque Abimelech iuxta turrim pugnabat fortiter et appropinquans ostio ignem supponere nitebatur.
53 a woman threw down a mil stone on his head and cracked his skull.	53 Et ecce una mulier superiorem molam desuper iaciens illisit capiti Abimelech et confregit cerebrum eius.
54 He instantly cal ed his young armour-bearer and said, 'Draw your sword and kil me, so that it wil notbe said of me that "A woman kil ed him".' His armour-bearer ran him through, and he died.	54 Qui vocavit cito armigerum suum et ait ad eum: “ Evagina gladium tuum et percute me, ne forte dicatur quod a femina interfectus sim ”. Qui transfodit eum.
55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they dispersed to their homes.	55 Illoque mortuo, omnes viri Israel hoc videntes reversi sunt in sedes suas.
56 Thus God made to recoil on Abimelech the evil he had done his father by murdering his seventybrothers,	56 Et reddidit Deus malum, quod fecerat Abimelech contra patrem suum, interfectis septuaginta fratribus suis.
57 and all the evil that the men of Shechem had done God made recoil on their heads too. And so thecurse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came true for them.	57 Sichimitis quoque, quod operati erant, retributum est, et venit super eos maledictio Ioatham filii Ierobbaal.